Hybrid audio/video entertainment system

ABSTRACT

A television entertainment system that combines the visual imagery of television entertainment and transmission with the audio of radio entertainment and transmission to create a new synthesis system for therapeutic benefit designated as Hybrid Radio Television. Each segment (video/audio) of the system can be viewed or heard/listened to on its own, however, it is designed to be viewed and heard/listened to as an integrated whole, as selected by a viewer.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. applicationSer. No. 11/275,960 filed Feb. 7, 2006, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/650,674, filed Feb. 7, 2005,the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an audio/video entertainment system,particularly one adapted to delivering therapeutic benefits to theviewer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES

In Enerchi Health, a web based health information service, recently itwas stated that “People generally feel that they live cluttered, hectic,overwhelming lives; between work, family, and friends, or any of thedozens of things that fill our days and tax our body and mind, rarely dowe take even a small part of our waking life entirely for ourselves,apart from unhealthy ‘escapist’ kinds of relaxation like TV that don'tallow the mind to settle down. The almost permanent state of stimulationand stress inevitably has dire consequences for both mental and physicalhealth, from higher blood pressure to compromised immune systems,leaving us vulnerable to any number of conditions. Making a priority oftaking ‘time out’ every day to simply withdraw from the whole mess canbe a big step toward improving health.”

Frantic programming seeks to draw the viewer to ever narrower fields ofinterests, but with more intensely focused programming. The result isthat there are dozens of entire networks devoted 24 hours per day, sevendays per week to a single subject; i.e., The Food Network, TennisNetwork, Speed, History Channel, Court TV, etc. Far from producing amental “time out”, current programming adds gasoline to the fire ofstress and information overload.

Moreover, there is a large and growing demographic segment that seeks toescape TV entirely, or to only occasionally use it as a quick source ofnews, in favor of a more tranquil and relaxing lifestyle. Thisdemographic segment includes a mature, upscale audience that appreciatesand desires to experience tranquil, relaxing places, preferably withbeautiful, breathtaking scenery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This new concept or format in television entertainment has as itsprimary goal the positive therapeutic effects of “time out” that wouldenhance mental and physical health. This therapeutic television systemstands in stark contrast to the current frantic programming that is thenorm in TV today and which the aforementioned audience seeks to avoid.

In one aspect of the present invention, a hybrid audio and video systemis provided for providing video and/or audio to a display at a remotelocation in response to control signals received from a user. The systemincludes at least one camera, a microphone, a source of a second videofeed, and a control node. The at least one camera is located at a firstlocation and provides a first video feed of a subject at the firstlocation. The microphone is located at the first location and provides afirst audio feed of the first location. The control node is located at acentral location and is coupled to the at least one camera, themicrophone, and the second video source. The control node receives thecontrol signals and provides a user video/audio feed to the display atthe remote location based on the first video feed, the audio feed and/orthe second video feed as a function of the control signals.

In another aspect of the present invention, a hybrid audio and videosystem is provided for providing video and/or audio to a display at aremote location in response to control signals received from a user. Thesystem includes a first feed including a first video signal conveyingappropriate visual imagery of a subject for the purpose of creating anaesthetically pleasing and relaxing experience by a user, and a secondfeed including a second audio signal conveying sound supplemental to theconveyed visual imagery of the first feed. A control device is locatedat the remote location, and the control signals from the user arereceived by the control device. A control node is in communication withthe control device and located at a central location at which the firstand second feeds are received and mixed, the control node having inputsincluding the first and second feeds and the control signals, and havingan output signal including a user feed that includes the mixed first andsecond feeds, the output signal from the control node being received bythe control device. The system also includes a display located at theremote location and coupled to the control device. The visual imagery ofthe subject and the sound conveyed by the user feed is reproduced by thedisplay, the aesthetically pleasing and relaxing experience of the usera result of the user's exposure to the display during its reproductionof the visual imagery and sound contained in the user feed.

A hybrid audio and video system according to the present invention mayoptionally include an aspect wherein the second feed includes an audiosignal and/or a video signal separately or together conveying commercialadvertising content that is included in the user feed and communicatedto the user using the display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a diagram of one embodiment of the present invention asdescribed below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1, and in operation, the present inventionprovides a hybrid audio and video system 10 for providing video and/oraudio to a display 12, which includes an associated speaker, at a remotelocation 14 in response to control signals received from a user. Thesystem 10 includes at least one camera 16, at least one microphone 18, asource of a second video and/or audio feed 20, and a control node 22.

The at least one camera 16 is located at a respective location 24 andprovides a first video feed of a subject 26 at the respective location24. The microphone 18 may also be located at the location 24 forproviding a first audio feed of the subject 26 at location 24, butinstead may be located at some other location. In the illustratedembodiment, a plurality of cameras 16A, 16B, . . . , 16N (three of whichare shown) and a plurality of microphones 18A, 18B, . . . , 18N arelocated at a plurality of respective locations 24A, 24B, . . . , 24N forproviding first video/audio feeds of a respective plurality of subjects26A, 26B, . . . , 26N.

The control node 22 may be located at a central location 28, such as acentral studio. The control node 22 is coupled to the at least onecamera 16, the microphone 18, and the second video and/or audio source20. The control node 22 receives the control signals and provides anoutput signal including a user video/audio feed to the control device 30(e.g., the cable or satellite transceiver box) at the remote location 14based on the first video feed, the first audio feed, and the secondvideo and/or audio feed as a function of the control signals, and theuser video/audio feed is conveyed by control device 30 to display 12.The display reproduces the visual imagery and sounds conveyed by theuser video/audio feed. The control node 22 receives the variousvideo/audio feeds automatically and/or manually and mixes them,resulting in various output feeds to be delivered to the display(s) 12.The various video/audio feeds may be mixed according to predeterminedrules and/or in response to the control signals received from the users.

In one aspect, the user or viewer or consumer controls operation of thesystem 10 including selecting between channels or feed, or selecting avideo-on-demand option on control device 30 and/or creating custom feedsby combining various video and/or audio feeds to create the desiredeffect (see below). In one embodiment, the user controls the system 10by sending control signals to the control node 22 via control device 30at user location 14 to which user/viewer's display 12 is connected.Control device 30A, 30B, . . . , 30Z includes the shown hand-held remotecontroller as well as the associated digital cable or satellitetransceiver unit respectively controlled thereby to which theuser/viewer's display 12 is connected. The control devices 30 allow theuser to navigate through a series of menus (not shown) presented on therespective display 12A, 12B, . . . , 12Z.

In the illustrated embodiment, at least one of the cameras 16N is aremotely controlled High Definition Television system camera viewing thesubject matter 26N. The microphone 18N is working in conjunction withthe HDT system camera 16N at locale 24N to acquire the localenvironmental sounds that are being produced by the subject matter 26N.Such subject matter 26N may be deliberately selected for itsaesthetically appealing qualities with an additional emphasis on scenesthat produce a relaxation or calming effect on the human psyche. Eachsuch subject matter 26 may include, but is not limited to, a snowywooded scene, a quiet marina, city skyline, a majestic landscape orseascape, etc. The subject matter 26 may be anywhere in the world andviewed in real time, or at the time of day or night when it wasprerecorded.

A common element of these various scenes is that there is no unfoldingstory to follow, or to miss. The scene preferably provides the viewerwith a naturally unfolding scene existing at the locale 24. The scenemay present moving elements on which the viewer may focus, such as, forexample, a pair of ducks swimming together through a marina, a deergrazing in a meadow, a ship passing through a seascape, a seabird on abeach, etc., but such elements are not distractions in the overallscene, but rather contribute to its tranquility and provide points ofinterest for the viewer. Moreover, the appearance of such a discretepoint of interest is preferably a singular occurrence at any given timein the displayed scene rather than as one of multiple concurrentlyappearing discrete points of interest, so as not to cause the viewer'sattention to be diverted back and forth between two or more suchelements, further facilitating the user's relaxation throughexperiencing the scene. The presence of such elements in the scenes aretypically by happenstance, and the camera 16 may be directed to zoom inon the element to satisfy the viewer's natural curiosity about it, or acamera operator/director at location 24 or preferably at central studio28 may zoom in on the element to bring to the viewer's attention if itotherwise might not be noticed by the viewer. The camera's attention tothe point of interest may linger for several minutes before being pannedaway or zoomed out, or until the element leaves the field of view.

The video and environmental audio output signal (i.e., the first videoand/or audio feed) is transmitted from its remote location 24 by eitherdigital satellite or digital cable to the control node 22 or centralstudio 28 that is also controlling and receiving one or more first feedoutput signals from other system cameras 16 and microphones 18. At thecentral studio 28, the incoming video/audio signals (the first videoand/or audio feeds) are conditioned (e.g., local environmental soundsmay be altered by being muted, eliminated in part or totally, oremphasized) and may be mixed with appropriate audio and/or video feedsfrom the source of second audio/video feeds 20.

Another embodiment of the hybrid audio/video system 10 would substitutefirst feeds of prerecorded video and/or audio for the live first feedsof hybrid audio/video system camera 16 and microphone 18 outputs. Thatis to say, the first audio and/or video feed of such an alternativeembodiment utilizes prerecorded video and/or audio instead of live videoand/or audio from camera 16 and microphone 18 at a location 24.Essentially the subject matter would remain the same or nearly so andsubsequent processing would be the same or nearly the same as well. Thisversion has a start up cost advantage over the multitude of HDT systemcameras and microphones version.

The audio and/or video feeds from the second source 20 may include, butare not limited to musical selections and a possible optional humanvoice spoken by an “on-air” radio personality, and/or an unobtrusivevisual superimposition of a banner across the bottom of the scenedisplaying prestigious brand's mark and/or product depiction. The markand/or product depiction is preferably still rather than moving, so asnot to provide an intrusive distraction from the scene being viewed,with a textually-presented slogan associated with the brand or itsassociated service or product. The “on-air” radio personality mayintroduce a programming segment as being sponsored or brought to theviewer by the source of the advertised product or service, and may also,or instead, read the slogan. The user is thus reminded of the brand'sservice or product. In connection with the present invention, theprestigious brands are used in a style which respects establishedcorporate and product identity, an advantage previously offered only inslick, upscale printed publications.

As noted above, a large and growing demographic segment of TV viewers,in seeking a more tranquil and relaxing lifestyle, are moving away fromTV entirely or only occasionally using it as a quick source of news.Individuals in this demographic segment seek freedom from the chaos,fear and stress of everyday life, and to temporarily divorce themselvesfrom certain aspects of their working lives or the world we live in,such as 24 hours news, email, cell phones, text messaging, voicemail,deadlines, travel warnings, etc. This segment tends to be mature andincludes a discerning, upscale audience that can appreciate, andrecognizes value in, products and services of various types (e.g.,luxury-market automobiles or timepieces, premium luggage, businessclothing, jewelry, luxury hotel chains and resorts, cruise lines, travelbureaus, etc.) associated with the prestigious, carefully-selected brandadvertising that lends itself well to the television format and systemof the present invention. Such viewers often seek to experience, andappreciate the benefits of, tranquility and relaxation.

The output signal now consisting of the system or mixed video, andsystem or mixed audio, is transmitted by digital cable and satellite orInternet to the user/consumer at remote location 14 where it isdisplayed and may be heard on a display 12. The display 12 may be anyappropriate display including but not limited to a television, acomputer, or a radio (for audio only).

Thus, an embodiment of the present invention provides a televisionentertainment system and format that combines appropriate radio/musicalentertainment formats with appropriate television visual imagery for thegoal of an aesthetically and aurally pleasing and relaxing experience.It should be a therapeutic experience for the viewer. It includes atelevision entertainment system and format whose purposeful design is toproduce effortless calmness and a therapeutic “time out” in the viewer'sdaily life, and whose viewing does not interfere in other dailyactivities. The viewing experience is primarily a viewing experiencethat creates the sense of the viewer being present at the locale, theimages and background sounds of which are “live” or prerecorded. Thetelevision entertainment production method employs remote controlledcameras to capture the most aesthetically pleasing visuals available atany particular time. It may alternatively be a television program thatuses prerecorded videotaped imagery. It may also be a televisionentertainment method that mixes music, environmental sounds, on-airvoice and conversation with aesthetically pleasing visual presentations.It may alternatively be a commercial television entertainment formatthat allows use of audio/video, audio only and video only commercials ora television/radio format that mixes live locale sounds such as nature,surf, running water, rain, foghorn, or other soothing therapeutic soundssuch as music or musical interludes.

The present invention is aimed at providing the positive therapeuticeffects of a “time out” that would enhance mental and physical health,by virtually transporting the viewer to another, more relaxing scene,which can be experienced visually and audibly, the effect of which maybe enhanced by a supplementing soundtrack of soothing music, forexample.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Within recent years a number of technological developments in theelectronic and television industry have been introduced on a nationalbasis. These developments are:

1. Large Screen Projection and Plasma Television sets;

2. Digital Satellite and Cable Television; and

3. High Definition Television.

Large Screen television sets make possible movie-like viewing oftelevision programming. The large screen format delivers a life-like or“you are there experience.”

Both satellite and cable digital television transmission systems nowallow the capacity to simultaneously transmit up to 1500 channels. Thesheer number of channels has resulted in a frantic search for content tofill this huge capability. Yet, content demand has not been satisfied ashundreds of channels are unused, thus making it possible to delivernontraditional niche programming. Digital transmission has alsodramatically improved picture and sound quality, again adding to thepossibility of a “you are there experience.”

High Definition Television systems deliver a picture quality that isindistinguishable from real viewing to add significantly to a “you arethere experience.”

The present invention creates a hybrid audio/video or Hybrid RadioTelevision (“HRT”) system 10 and an experience for the viewer, atselected intervals chosen by the viewer, for realizing a therapeutic andrelaxation benefit, selected on the basis of the preferences of theindividual viewer or a group of viewers.

HRT Technical Considerations—Two main technical tasks required by thehybrid audio/video system are content acquisition and delivery. Animportant aspect of the most appealing format is the “live”presentation. It has long been recognized that “live” television createsthe most interest and emotional connection to the viewer that tape orfilm simply cannot deliver. For instance it has been noted thattelevision coverage of the 9-11 terrorist attacks noted that viewers inreal time (live) experienced the same physical effects (elevated heartrate, sweating, and agitation) and psychological effects (fear, anxiety)as the witnesses in New York City. The similar but opposite effect oflive scenes of aesthetically pleasing and relaxing content producestherapeutic calming effects as if the viewer was at each of thesepleasant locales. Cameras in a number of different locales can becontrolled remotely from a central studio. Similar to coverage of a golftournament in which the coverage constantly changes from hole to hole tokeep up a rhythm of action, the hybrid audio/video system director willconstantly seek out the most interesting, dramatic, and appealing shotsfrom locale to locale, etc. The live coverage can be supplemented byprerecorded footage as needed, for instance as a particularly dramaticintroduction to a new locale.

Sight and Sound—The camera work of the hybrid audio/video system willoften focus on single scene for prolonged periods of time (as comparedto conventional television). For instance, a sunset scene may be viewedwithout any camera motion for 30 minutes or more. For a lighthousesubject format, the television camera may not change the scene for hoursat a time. In other scenes that offer a less focused subject than asunset or lighthouse, for instance a major cityscape, the camera willoften stay motionless on a scene for a few minutes, but then slowly panin different directions. Scene shifts between different locales will beaccomplished with deliberate slowness, with time intervals betweendifferent locales measured in minutes to tens of minutes.

For scenes involving ship watching, the camera can acquire the ship at agreat distance (e.g., as it emerges over the horizon) with telephotolenses and then follow the vessel as its image grows in size, untilclose-ups of various parts of the ship are possible. This camera viewcan last for an hour or more. Information about the ship, such as type,registry, tonnage, propulsion, etc., can be displayed at the edges ofthe screen. Similar data can also accompany land scenes, such as whatcity, island, mountain, and locale is being viewed.

Although a hybrid audio/video system entertainment places a large focuson radio (audio) format of music and “on-air personality” conversation,another dimension of sound can be added to the format by includingappropriate sounds from the locale either between musical accompanimentsor mixed with the music. These sounds can convey the additionalimpression of “you are there,” or enhance it. These sounds can beselected for their relaxation/therapeutic effects, sounds such as surf,running water, rain, bird songs, etc. Other sounds such as lighthousefog horns, ship whistles, weather sounds of wind, thunder can add to therealism and authenticity of the video presentation.

“On-air personalities” will provide continuity and additional interestto the visual/audio signals by providing entertaining conversation,information, and the calming soothing effective of the human voice.Information about the visual or music selection or artist can also beoffered. In addition, traditional radio services such as weather,traffic, and even news may be provided where hybrid audio/video systementertainment is provided on a local or regional basis.

The method that will achieve the goal of therapeutic television is tocombine visual imagery conveyed by primarily live television broadcastthat are esthetically pleasing (beautiful architecture, cityscapes,harborscapes, landscapes and seascapes), yet purposefully calming to thehuman psyche (no drama, comedy, adventure, or any other forms that aredesigned to engage the viewer), with voice and music (with similarity tomusic therapy) that are also designed for calmness and relaxation. Theaudio portion of the programming is much like radio in that it can standon its own as an entertainment format. Likewise the visual imagerystands on its own, yet is connected to the audio to create a sense ofbeauty and tranquility. This relationship between a radio-like formatand the visuals of television is part of the Hybrid Radio Televisionsystem or HRT system.

To give a sense of the HRT system programming, it can be described asfollows—you are viewing through a window a beautiful, interestingland/sea/city/harbor scene while listening to your favorite music orradio program. It is as if you lived in the most desired locations inthe world—a South Pacific isle, Nob Hill in San Francisco, downtownChicago, or the Canadian Rockies, when in fact you are watching thesescenes in your own home, preferably but not necessarily on a largescreen HDTV television. These scenes and the voice and/or musicaccompaniment are not imperative to watch or listen to. The users canwatch/listen as they choose. The HRT system does not, unlikeconventional television programming, demand your attention and isnon-intrusive. The user will not have the frustration of missing somemoment of dialogue or plot or action sequence because, although thescenes change (slowly), the effect of purposeful calmness and aestheticfulfillment remains constant. HRT system therapeutic television can beon during conversation, dinner, or while you read or work. There is nostory-line to follow. And that is by design, while the design intent of“demanding television” is to make it difficult to impossible to engagein any of the above. Even programs on relaxation therapy such as yoga orexercise programs still require you to focus and think about what isbeing presented. Some of those programs may be related to relaxation,while the HRT system actually is therapy and relaxation.

As the user enjoys the visual programming content, all the whileappropriate music such as, for example, cool jazz, easy listening,classics, soft rock, contemporary pop, orchestrated classical, new age,or performances by vocalists or instrumental soloists, is offered up bya deep melodious voiced “on-air” personality, or solely choreographedwithout any human voices interposed. Preferably, all audio contentreceived by the user is all designed to be aurally pleasing andrelaxing.

A number of the following specific system formats suggest themselves asappropriate for HRT system therapeutic television, but it is to beunderstood that the inventive system is certainly not limited thereto.Each format may be provided to the viewer via one of a plurality ofdedicated channels, each dedicated channel delivering programming of aparticular scene or type of scene 24/7, or may be provided to the vieweron-demand through menu selections via control device 30.

HRT Cityscapes and Harborscapes—This HRT system program format featuresthe world's most spectacular city and harbor scenes—New York, SanFrancisco, Hong Kong, etc—spectacular skylines, building architecture,ships from the far corners of the world arriving and departing. Sunsetsand sunrises on the Golden Gate, the Bosporus, Rio de Janeiro, are thevisuals of the HRT system in this format. In Chicago, New York, or anyother great city for that matter, the most sought-after residences areluxury apartment/condominiums with a great view. Ten thousand dollars amonth for rent is typical for these addresses. This is what cityscapesand harborscapes can deliver to a viewer anywhere in the world. One canenjoy hours, an hour, a few minutes, or any selected amount of time ofdetachment, relaxation and enjoyment watching sunset and nightfall inSan Francisco, or watching ships or planes departing and arriving fromworld destinations. All of the scenes and music are beautiful andendlessly interesting, but none are imperative to watch. The HRT systemwill always be there, 24 hours per day, seven days per week, wheneverthe viewer wants it, which may be in real time or time shifted.

HRT Ship Channel—This HRT system format is closely related tocityscapes, but with an emphasis on ship watching. So in addition to thegreat port cities of the world, additional live cameras can cover shipstransiting and locking through canals and waterways (Suez Canal, Welland, St. Lawrence, Sault St. Marie, Kiel, etc.). In the Great Lakesarea, ship watching is a very popular pastime. Hundreds of thousands ofpeople travel hundreds of miles to the lock system at Sault Step. Marie,Mich., or viewing locations at hotels and motels along the St. ClaireRiver for this activity. Watching ships passing the backdrop of theDetroit skyline, from viewing locations across the Detroit River inWindsor, Ontario, Canada, can also be a relaxing and interestingpastime. The HRT system can bring an electronically enhanced shipwatching experience to people thousands of miles from the nearest oceanor port, including the possibility of watching these scenes in real timeor time shifted, as desired.

HRT Ships at Sea—Imagine the sense of relaxation the view from a riverboat cruise can offer. With the ships at sea HRT system format, theviewer can float down the Mississippi, the Nile, the (Blue) Danube, theRhine, the Volga, or any other of the world's great rivers flowing pastthe captivating countryside and cities of those far away and exoticlocales. By placing television cameras on ships and cruise boats, theHRT system's ships at sea format can get you there as you watch the wakeof your ship meet the horizon, accompanied by your favorite music.

HRT Tropical Paradise—In this HRT system format the viewer sees palmtrees bending and swaying into the wind overlooking a full moonlitbeach, while the sounds of the surf creates a soothing background forthe musical accompaniment. This format should be one of the mostpowerful HRT system formats in achieving a therapeutic “time out.”

HRT Lighthouses—Lighthouse tourism and collectables is a major cottageindustry in the US. Many have a mystical attraction to these sentinelsof the sea and what better way to fulfill that yearning than to live byone courtesy of a large high definition HRT experience. HRT Lighthouseswill be one of the formats where the camera scene can remainsubstantially motionless for hours on end.

Simulcasting Regional and Local HRT—Because the HRT system ispolitically and culturally neutral, the potential scale of delivery isworldwide. The HRT system format though, also allows for local content,as the HRT system can easily incorporate local commercials as well aslocal content. For instance, a Great Lakes version of the HRT system canbe simulcast with a radio format such as the locally produced portion ofa popular Detroit radio station. Thus, the second audio feed may includea simulcast with a locally or regionally-produced radio broadcast. Theradio broadcast may be local or regional relative to the location of theuser, or alternatively, it may be local or regional relative to thelocation of the scene being viewed, contributing to the “local flavor”provided by the programmed imagery. For example, evening skyline scenesof San Francisco may be accompanied by a simulcast of a San Franciscojazz radio program, perhaps including commentary by its local on-airhost contributing to the user's “you are there experience” despite theuser being geographically remote from San Francisco. Local radiopersonalities can use the visuals of the HRT system as a compliment totheir topics of discussion. The simulcast can be delivered via localcable distributors.

Regional and Local HRT may also include tranquil scenes of the localcity which the viewer normally does not get the opportunity toexperience. While the city in which the viewer is located may, in hiseveryday life, be a hectic and stressful place from which he would liketo escape, it is expected that presenting tranquil scenes of it atcertain locations (e.g., a downtown riverfront or a park) and/or time ofday (e.g., early morning or sunset) at which it is quiet and devoid ofhustle and bustle, and quite different from the viewer's normal,real-life exposure to the same environs, would improve his perceptionsof it. Experiencing the locality in which the viewer lives and works andordinarily perceives as a source of stresses in his life, as a tranquil,relaxing, and beautiful place, would tend to improve the user's outlookabout living and working there.

Revenue and Commercials—The HRT system may be designed to be a basis fora profit-making business. As such, ad revenue generating commercials maybe integrated as a part of the programming. To maintain and even enhancethe HRT system therapeutic television experience, commercials willfollow guidelines of style and content that will reinforce the HRTsystem programming experience. Including, but not limited to:

1. Traditional audio and video content commercials, preferablycomplementary in style and tone to the programming content. Suchcommercials may be interposed between programming segments orpluralities of sequential segments, each segment lasting, for example,the duration of one or more musical selections, or the amount of timeassociated with completion of a viewed event such as the passing of aship through a scene or the duration of a sunset;

2. Audio only—for instance the “on-air personality” can read acommercial while the visuals of the current HRT system locale are stillplaying. This is an original development in TV commercials in whichsound only conveys the commercial content while the “entertainment”video portion remains basically unchanged;

3. Visual only—a sponsor's company or corporate logo (for a time periodof 15-30-60 minutes) may be displayed unintrusively in the corner of thescreen;

4. Seamless embedded commercial—the commercial can be integrated intothe programming virtually seamlessly—for instance an HRT system segmentmay be using downtown Chicago as its viewing locale or a cruise shipdeparting port. The Chicago city convention and tourism bureau and thecruise line are beneficiaries of the television exposure and may pay foradditional or increased exposure; or

5. Segment sponsorship introduction—as described above, a banner can beunobtrusively superimposed across the bottom of the scene displaying abrand's mark and/or product depiction, with a textually-presented sloganthat may be read by the “on-air” radio personality in introducing thesponsored programming segment.

Due to the lengthy duration of scenes included in the programmingaccording to this format, it may be preferable that commercial content,particularly traditional audio and video commercial content that isinterposed and therefore interrupts the programming content, befront-loaded for exposure to the user upon his selecting a particularchannel or video-on-demand for viewing, thereby ensuring that the useris both reminded of the goods or services offered by the sponsor, andcan thereafter enjoy a relatively longer, uninterrupted period ofenjoying the scene and accompanying music.

In a first aspect of the present invention, the system 10 may provide aradio/television format that combines appropriate audio music and voiceinputs with appropriate visual imagery for the purpose of creating anesthetically pleasing and relaxing experience.

In a second aspect of the present invention, the system 10 may provide aradio/television entertainment format whose purposeful design is toproduce an effortless calmness and a therapeutic mental rest in theviewer's daily life.

In a third aspect of the present invention, the system 10 may provide aradio/television entertainment format that is non intrusive to theviewers attention and allows the viewer to conduct other activities suchas reading or conversation.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, the system 10 may provide aradio/television broadcast that is primarily live for maximum emotionalconnection, interest and therapeutic effect.

In a fifth aspect of the present invention, the system 10 may provide aradio/television entertainment production in which the scene can remainunchanged for minutes to hours at a time.

In a sixth aspect of the present invention, the system 10 may provide aradio/television entertainment format that allows the use ofaudio/visual, audio only, and visual only commercials.

In a seventh aspect of the present invention, the system 10 may providea radio/television format that mixes live locale environmental soundssuch as sounds of surf, running water, rain, thunder, fog horns, shipsor locomotive engines into the program of music and interludes.

It will, of course, be understood that the foregoing description is of apreferred exemplary embodiment of the invention and that the inventionis not limited to the specific embodiments shown. Other changes andmodifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art and allsuch changes and modifications are intended to be within the scope ofthe present invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A hybrid audio and video system,comprising: at least one video signal feed conveying a visual imagery ofa subject; at least one audio signal feed conveying environmental soundsassociated with the subject; at least one control device incommunication with a user display, wherein the at least one controldevice and user display are located at a remote location; and a controlnode located at a central location and configured to receive the atleast one video signal feed and the at least one audio signal feed andto generate at least one output signal comprising a user feed based onthe at least one video signal feed or a combination of the at least onevideo signal feed and the at least one audio signal feed, and whereinthe at least one video signal feed and the at least one audio signalfeed are received and combined at the central location according topredetermined rules and/or in response to control signals received froma user through the at least one control device, and wherein the controlnode is configured to transmit the at least one output signal to the atleast one control device, which selectively communicates the at leastone output signal to the user display.
 2. The hybrid audio and videosystem of claim 1, wherein the control device and the control node areremotely located with respect to the subject.
 3. The hybrid audio andvideo system of claim 1, wherein the visual imagery of the subjectcreates an aesthetically pleasing and relaxing experience for the user.4. The hybrid audio and video system of claim 1, wherein the visualimagery of the subject conveyed to the user display is primarily live.5. The hybrid audio and video system of claim 1, wherein the visualimagery of the subject conveyed to the user display remainssubstantially unchanged for minutes to hours at a time.
 6. The hybridaudio and video system of claim 1, further including a microphoneconfigured to acquire the environmental sounds associated with thesubject.
 7. The hybrid audio and video system of claim 1, wherein thecontrol node is configured to condition the at least one video signalfeed and/or the at least one audio signal feed to generate an alteredoutput signal.
 8. The hybrid audio and video system of claim 7, whereinconditioning the at least one video signal feed and/or the at least oneaudio signal includes one or more of: muting, emphasizing, eliminatingin part or eliminating in total, the environmental sounds associatedwith the subject.
 9. The hybrid audio and video system of claim 1,wherein the control node is configured to mix the at least one videosignal feed and/or the at least one audio signal feed with one or bothof a secondary video signal feed and a secondary audio signal feed. 10.The hybrid audio and video system of claim 9, wherein the secondaryvideo signal feed includes a visual superimposition of a bannerdisplaying advertising information.
 11. The hybrid audio and videosystem of claim 9, wherein the secondary audio signal feed includesmusic and/or a human voice.
 12. The hybrid audio and video system ofclaim 9, wherein the secondary audio signal feed includes an audiosignal conveying information about at least one of the visual imagery, amusic selection, traditional radio service, or a simulcast of a radiobroadcast.
 13. The hybrid audio and video system of claim 1, wherein theat least one output signal contains live video feed.
 14. The hybridaudio and video system of claim 1, wherein the at least one outputsignal contains live audio feed.
 15. The hybrid audio and video systemof claim 1, wherein the at least one output signal contains prerecordedvideo feed.
 16. The hybrid audio and video system of claim 1, whereinthe at least one output signal contains prerecorded audio feed.
 17. Thehybrid audio and video system of claim 1, wherein the control node isconfigured to receive control commands from the at least one controldevice, wherein the control commands allow a user to select betweenfeeds, create custom feeds and/or select a video-on-demand option. 18.The hybrid audio and video system of claim 1, wherein the at least onevideo signal feed includes a plurality of video signal feeds and the atleast one audio signal feed includes a plurality of audio signal feeds,and wherein the at least one control device is configured to allow theuser to create custom feeds by combining the plurality of video andaudio signal feeds to create a desired effect.